The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB's function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport. The ATSB is Australia's prime agency for the independent investigation of civil aviation, rail and maritime accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies.

Summary

Summary

What happened

At 0445 Eastern Standard Time on 24 February 2011, the pilot of an Aero Commander 500S, registered VH-WZU, commenced a freight charter flight from Cairns to Horn Island, Queensland under the instrument flight rules. The aircraft arrived in the Horn Island area at about 0720 and the pilot advised air traffic control that he intended holding east of the island due to low cloud and rain. At about 0750 he advised pilots in the area that he was north of Horn Island and was intending to commence a visual approach. When the aircraft did not arrive a search was commenced but the pilot and aircraft were not found. On about 10 October 2011, the wreckage was located on the seabed about 26 km north-north-west of Horn Island.

What the ATSB found

The ATSB found that the aircraft had not broken up in flight and that it impacted the water at a relatively low speed and a near wings-level attitude, consistent with it being under control at impact. It is likely that the pilot encountered rain and reduced visibility when manoeuvring to commence a visual approach. However, there was insufficient evidence available to determine why the aircraft impacted the water.

Several aspects of the flight increased risk. The pilot had less than 4 hours sleep during the night before the flight and the operator did not have any procedures or guidance in place to minimise the fatigue risk associated with early starts. In addition, the pilot, who was also the operator’s chief pilot, had either not met the recency requirements or did not have an endorsement to conduct the types of instrument approaches available at Horn Island and several other locations frequently used by the operator.

What has been done as a result

Following the accident, the operator ceased operations and did not have the opportunity to enhance its processes.

Separately, and although not undertaken as a result of the accident, in May 2012 the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued a notice of proposed rule making relating to flight crew fatigue management. In the case of single pilot public transport operations, this included a proposal to restrict the duration of a flight duty period and the number of late night duty periods in certain circumstances. In addition, in July 2012 CASA issued draft requirements for the installation of additional equipment in small aircraft involved in passenger transport operations, such as a terrain awareness and warning system and weather radar equipment.

Safety message

Although no firm conclusions could be drawn regarding why the aircraft impacted the water, the ATSB highlights the need for pilots to ensure they have had sufficient sleep prior to conducting a flight, and that operators have processes in place to manage the potential fatigue risks, including those associated with early starts.